
Autumn is the season of school cultural festivals (bunkasai) in Japan. Students pour hours and hours of their time into creating the best possible attractions, food stands, and performances and proudly display these efforts of love for the surrounding community to enjoy.
There must be something in the water because, starting with the teacups ride we introduced last month, Japanese students seem to be showing some unprecedented creativity this year. Just take this musical arcade game that was built entirely by high schoolers, and which many stunned guests have proclaimed to be “good enough to be in a real game center.”
Chrono Tone is the name of the musical arcade-style game created by third year students at Tsukukoma Yamikoma High School in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo for their annual school festival. Based on Twitter comments, the inclusion of a music game appears to be an established custom at Tsukukoma High cultural festivals. Even so, this year students really seemed to pull out all of the stops to make a high quality game in which players can choose the song and difficulty level, including Tsukukoma High’s own school song! Just thinking about all of the effort involved for only three-day-long school festival makes our heads spin…
Check out the game’s incredibly detailed screen and controls in these pictures and videos:
筑駒の音ゲーが、更なる進化を遂げている…!! #tkfes #筑駒 pic.twitter.com/ohmnET9fe7
— YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 1, 2015
恒例になりつつある縁日班音ゲー@筑駒文化祭。聞くところによると障害もなく動き続けてたらしいしやばい pic.twitter.com/5XEsJae1XE
— Shunta Iketaki / 池滝 俊太 (@Iketaki) November 3, 2015
説明しよう。この音ゲーは、受験など眼中にない筑駒高3生の手により、たった三日間だけ使われるために産み出された秘密兵器なのだ。 #筑駒 #筑駒文化祭2015 #tsukukoma #tkfes pic.twitter.com/xSfmd8Y1fF
— YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 1, 2015
筑駒音ゲー、もちろん選曲もできますし、レベル設定もあります。リザルト画面の完成度も高いですね。
— YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 1, 2015
#筑駒 #筑駒文化祭2015 #tsukukoma pic.twitter.com/VJfPhoBW0K
改めて写真を見ると、画面内のデザインが細部まで練り込まれていて本当に素晴らしいですね。ブースに飾られたテーマデザインのお蔭で、全体に統一感があって高校の文化祭には見えないです。 pic.twitter.com/jWU8pFJ0Ag
— YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 5, 2015
筑駒縁日班が制作した音ゲーに対して、攻略する在校生のレベルの高さにも驚きます。 #筑駒 #筑駒文化祭2015 #tsukukoma pic.twitter.com/7UxFfDk3JW
— YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/cf8ZcUDYriJgClQ/status/660761276822323200筑駒で最新音ゲー遊べるとかこれマジ!? pic.twitter.com/tqiefHR9sa
— Shu※@春M3サークル参加 (@kihanmoto) November 1, 2015
Here’s what some Japanese commenters had to say when they saw clips of Chrono Tone being played:
“At first glance I thought it was a real arcade game!”
“That’s super high-level for a school festival.”
“It’s good enough to be commercialized.”
“The kids who made it aren’t gonna have trouble finding jobs…”
“I’m curious where they got the funds to make this.”
Even more impressive is that apparently the game didn’t break down or malfunction at all for the duration of the festival. Props to you, Tsukukoma High seniors!
Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Twitter/YAMIKOMA_PR

Japanese high school holds annual contest to decide the prettiest “girl” in school
Japanese high school boys hold annual beauty pageant, look as cute as ever【Pics】
Japanese high school girls’ culture festival celebrates the art of student cosplay 【Photos】
High school students’ teacup ride blows up online, looks more fun than the Disneyland one
Japanese high school students build crazy wooden roller coaster at school festival【Video】
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Family Mart releases huge range of cute sweets for Cat Day in Japan
Japan’s most famous Mt. Fuji view park cancels cherry blossom festival because of overtourism
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Downloads of 39-year-old Guns N’ Roses song increase 12,166 percent thanks to Gundam
Kyoto samurai house wants to share its history of seppuku, torture and gold coins with visitors
Yahoo! Japan finds most alphabetic and katakana words Japanese people want to find out about
Act of Japanese kindness touches one man’s heart, provides hope for elevator etiquette
Man arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo
Japan’s first all-matcha ramen restaurant is now open in Kyoto【Photos】
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Huge Evangelion Unit-01 head appearing in lights in Japan to celebrate anime’s 30th anniversary
Kyoto planning surprise late-night inspections of Airbnb-style rentals to fight overtourism
Japanese movie theater chain’s popcorn earns highest Grand Prix quality certification
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
This huge, detailed Gundam sculpture was built out of cardboard by Japanese high school students
Second-year Japanese high school student creates amazingly realistic dioramas
Multi-orchestra video game music festival to be held at the online Tokyo Game Show 2021
Eiko Digital Creative High School opens in two cities where students can study e-sports and more
Students at Tokyo University of the Arts create amazing festival shrines of giant monsters 【Pics】
Retro game arcade severely damaged in fire in Japan【Video】
Game over as 33-year-old landmark arcade closes in Tokyo’s Akihabara district【Photos, video】
”We came home.” Sega makes arcade comeback with new game center in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district
Pro sumo wrestler walks into Japanese arcade, shows off amazing rhythm game drum skills【Video】
Japanese high school genius creates incredible 4-minute stop motion movie 【Video】
World record set for most crane games in one arcade with new game center in Tokyo
Difference between a student at a normal high school and a technical high school
High school girls in Japan create and sell “butt-shaped soap,” praised as “way too high quality”
Leave a Reply